SUMMER 2017

LAU NY Honors Zaven Kouyoumdjian

n March 23, Lebanese Preserving collective memory, his own frustrated research, finding little American University’s New On Screen seeks to use the lens of if any published work on Lebanese pop OYork Academic Center hosted television to examine the way pop culture culture, and his experiences as an adjunct a talk, book signing and reception with brought the together faculty member. Lecturing at Lebanese Lebanese television celebrity Zaven and presented an image of Lebanon to colleges, he would put photos of iconic Kouyoumdjian, author of Lebanon the outside world. Both before and after Lebanese television stars in front of On Screen: The Greatest Moments of the war, television was crucial in helping undergraduates who had no recognition Lebanese Television and Pop Culture. disparate groups, divided by religion, of their importance. “We want Lebanese Well-known TV host Rita Zihenni led sect, or region, identify themselves as media students to know about the history the discussion, which was co-sponsored Lebanese. In Kouyoumdjian’s words, of Lebanese TV, not just American TV.” by the Consulate General of Lebanon in “Television came to tell the Lebanese New York. about the Lebanese.” Ms. Zihenni pointed out that the book was already a best-seller in Lebanon, and Zaven Kouyoumdjian is a television Lebanon On Screen is a remarkable that many young people were purchasing celebrity, talk show host, producer resource, filled with rare photographs the book as a gift for their parents or and best-selling writer. He currently that made the members of the audience grandparents. She noted that she still hosts a weekly talk show on Lebanon’s gasp and murmur as they recognized sought out clips of Lebanese television Future Television titled Bala Toul Sire. famous faces. Kouyoumdjian hopes on YouTube to show her children, hoping A graduate of LAU, Kouyoumdjian is that the book can be a starting point to it will “make them more Lebanese.” also a media consultant and lecturer at re-connect Lebanese people with the Kouyoumdjian replied, “Or at least that various Lebanese and Arab universities past and with each other. “Because of the it will help them understand you!” In all including LAU, where he is a part-time war, there is no continuity of memory,” seriousness, Kouyoumdjian said that he faculty member in the School of Arts and he said. His work was inspired in part by hoped that families would look at the Sciences. Continued on page 7

The North American Newsletter of Lebanese American University academic center

Joseph Audi Study Abroad Scholarship student Hassan Jebai, after finishing LAU NY ACADEMIC CALENDAR a very successful semester at Baruch Public Events College, stopped by the LAU New York Academic Center on May 25 to September 27: Lecture: “Understanding Exoplanets,” visit with Vice President of University by distinguished Lebanese astronomer Dr. George Advancement Marla Rice-Evans and to Helou, California Institute of Technology share tales of his time in New York. October 5: Panel Discussion: “ Diasporas and Foreign Policy,” with Dr. Juris Pupcenoks, Marist College October 19: Poetry Reading by award-winning On April 12, the LAU New York Lebanese poet Chawki Bzih Academic Center in collaboration with Courses the Consulate General of Lebanon in New York held a lecture titled June 5 - July 28: Language Courses “Phoenician Expedition Crossing the Atlantic.” Captain Philip Beale talked Celebrating Lebanese Olive Oil about his upcoming expedition to prove that the Phoenicians For more information, please contact: used a sophisticated navigation system to cross the Atlantic long Lina Beydoun, Academic Executive Director (917) 720-8611, [email protected] AU’s New York Academic Center and the Consul Olive Zerta, Terroirs du Liban, Zeit Dayeetna, Zeit Zaman, and before Columbus. Journalist Rita Zihenni led the discussion. General of Lebanon in New York, Majdi Ramadan, Zejd. But before inviting guests to have a taste, representatives Lrecently hosted a first-of-its-kind evening dedicated to of the producers took turns to engage the audience in short, celebrating Lebanese olive oil. lively, and often-humorous discussions.

“The olive trees of the town of Bchaale in Lebanon, estimated LAU graduate Tania Bou Raad, who represented Zejd, told the to be six thousand years old, are the oldest in the world and audience that she was very proud and impressed with the efforts LAU Matters is published quarterly by the New York are known as Noah’s olive trees,” said Consul Ramadan, who made by the university’s New York Academic Center to create Headquarters and Academic Center of Lebanese American referred to the olive tree as a symbol of abundance and peace a sense of community in the city, “with the goal of sending out University and distributed free of charge to alumni, friends and mentioned in heavenly books and immortalized by poets as a positive messages about Lebanon, its people, heritage, know- supporters of the university in North America. tree of blessing. “Even the first Olympic torch was a flaming how, and markets.” Bou Raad views the industry’s greatest Editorial: Erika Iverson olive branch,” Ramadan pointed out to the captivated audience. challenge as “to be able to market [the product] to the high-end Design: Maryam Zoma mainstream market in the U.S.,” and not just to the Lebanese Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra, President Julie Ann Sageer, a Lebanese-American celebrity chef, author, diaspora in ethnic markets. “LAU NY is the ideal setting Marla Rice-Evans, Vice President for University Advancement and public television host – who is known as Julie Taboulie for raising awareness of Lebanese olive oil among the local LAU Matters – delved into a full exploration of Lebanon’s olive oil landscape community,” she said. LAU New York Headquarters and Academic Center 211 East 46th Street using all five senses. “This [event] is so special because it On May 2, LAU’s New York Academic Center, in partnership New York, NY 10017-2935 brings together the olive oil producers, puts the spotlight on “Events like this bring together community members, not only with the Consulate General of Lebanon in New York and the (212) 203-4333 products from our country, bridges the gap between Lebanon and to celebrate the ancient olive trees that have been cultivated laumatters.org New Pen League, hosted “Bridging Voices: An Evening of America, and transports the olive oil straight here to the U.S.,” since Phoenician times, but also to honor an identity and Please send all comments to: [email protected] Poetry, Zajal, and Song.” The program included singing by said Sageer. cultural heritage,” commented LAU New York Academic Center Rita Zihenni, ‘oud playing by Mario Chamoun, and poetry Director Lina Beydoun. readings by distinguished poets, including Youssef Abdel Samad, Indeed, 12 oil producers and co-ops participated in the exhibition and tasting, including Altirs, J. Grove, LELO Fine Foods, Mansour Ajami, Akram Alkatreb, Fadi Saad, and Firas Sulaiman. Cover Photo: Zaven Kouyoumdjian and Rita Zihenni at the LAU NY NPL member Wael Chehab made opening remarks. Academic Center on March 23. Nicholas Phares & Sons, Olea Coop, Olivares, Olive Harvest,

2 | LAU Academic Center LAU Academic Center | 3 to become leaders in the Middle East in every profession. BCW Alumni Spotlight: prepared us, whether we stayed in Lebanon or went to Europe alumni events or to the US, to meet any challenges. In 1960 BCW afforded me Leila Blackstone and the opportunity to attend an international conference of social Susan Qaqunda workers in Ohio. There was one representative from every country, and I was chosen from BCW to represent Lebanon. I went on to a wonderful career in social services for many years. Southern California ot all LAU friends and graduates know about the Tell us about your relationship to LAU and the Alumni The Southern California Alumni Chapter gathered for a garden party history of the university back Association now! hosted by Leila and Richard Blackstone on April 1. N when it was a small women’s college, SQ: We came here in 1967 – by 1970 I got involved in helping but the LAU of today owes much to bring together alumni when officials of the school would to its foremothers. College come to California. I still care about my alma mater! for Women (BCW) alumnae Susan LB: Probably 25 or 30 years ago I was approached, and a small Qaqundah (née Salib, right) and Leila but dedicated group have kept it going all these years. And Blackstone (née Khoury, left) are the it’s largely a wonderful, extremely successful group of BCW backbone of the Southern California graduates. I am very proud to be a graduate of BCW. Chapter of the LAU Alumni Association. SQ: My goodness, I am so proud of what they have done with our little college! It started as a small women’s liberal Why did you choose to study at Beirut College for Women? arts college, and now it is a world renowned university with a Washington, D.C. Leila Blackstone: Before it became BCW, it was American medical school, a pharmacy school, a nursing school, graduate Junior College for Women (AJCW). My mother was in the programs. Dr. Nassar and Dr. Jabbra must be so proud of what The Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter gathered for an Iftar dinner on second graduating class at AJCW, and her sister was in the first! they have accomplished. Seattle June 8 at Lebanese Taverna in Arlington, Virginia. When it was my turn to go to college, I never thought about The Seattle Alumni Chapter met for a hike at Snoqualmie Falls on April other schools, not even once! 30. After the hike the group went to the lodge in their “Attic Room” for food and socializing. What was your experience at BCW like? UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS Susan Qaqundah: I had come from a British girls’ school. At BCW we didn’t have a big iron gate and a high wall protecting July 9: Toronto Alumni Chapter Annual Breakfast in the Park us from the outside – we were treated like adults. I was in the July 11: Annual Alumni Dinner in Beirut choir, and in productions of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, and July 13: Alumni Homecoming on Byblos Campus that love of music has stayed with me all my life. LB: BCW made the students like a sisterhood. I was a Christian July 14: Alumni Homecoming on Beirut Campus Houston girl, my roommate was Muslim, and we adored each other, we July 16: Annual President’s Forum Brunch still do! BCW made a point of accepting everybody, to make The Houston Alumni Chapter met for Oscar Night at Simone on Sunset July 16: New York/New Jersey Alumni Chapter on February 26. them a cohesive group. I was very involved in the student government and social services, and there BCW gave us an Lebanese Night II introduction into the world. The staff of the social work program July 17: Alumni Trip to Jabal Moussa, Keserwan were a tremendous inspiration to all of the social work graduates. August TBD: New York/New Jersey Chapter What role did your time at BCW play in influencing you? Kayaking on the Hudson SQ: Receiving an education at BCW was an enriching and life- September 9: Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter Family Picnic changing experience. My writing training as an English major September 10: Toronto Alumni Chapter Family Picnic New York/New Jersey led me to fundraising, which I have done for the Philharmonic

The New York/New Jersey Alumni Chapter met for an Iftar dinner at Society of Orange County and for the American Lung If your alumni chapter has an upcoming event, please notify: Balade Restaurant in Manhattan on June 4. Northern California Association. Ed Shiner, Director of Alumni and Special Projects LB: At BCW, Lebanon provided a place for women to get a (646) 255-1099, [email protected] The Northern California Alumni Chapter gathered for three lectures on good education and to get the experience and training we needed enhancing life on April 29 at Tannourine Restaurant.in San Mateo.

4 | Alumni Alumni | 5 Lebanon on Screen Continued from page 1

book together, as it might help young people reconnect to their parents and to their roots. “What is a nation? It is a collection of memories.”

During the reception and book signing, Kouyoumdjian spoke eloquently about the debt he owes to LAU and the thrill of being honored at LAU NY. “I have always felt very proud Dr. Sonia Konialian Aller to be a part of LAU,” he said, noting that he graduated from Journalist Rita Zihenni, LAU New York Academic Center Director Lina and Dr. Wayne K. Aller Beirut University College (BUC) in 1992. He credits his LAU Beydoun, Author Zaven Kouyoumdjian, and Consul General Majdi education with shaping the way he sees the world as a journalist, Ramadan, March 23. “pay it forward” with “always trying to ask different questions, to search for new groundbreaking endowment angles.” Consul General Majdi Ramadan was pleased by the crowd at for IWSAW LAU NY, joking that it had become a kind of “Lebanese Club.” The center’s director, Lina Beydoun, took the opportunity to express her gratitude to the Consul General, saying that his rowing up in Aleppo in the 1950s and 60s, Sonia support made remarkable evenings like this one possible. Konialian (BCW ‘66) drew inspiration from a family Gthat valued education and excellence. When the Speaking of the wide diversity of events offered to the Lebanese Honor Someone Today time came for her to take the big step forward to pursue her community at LAU NY, Ramadan said “I honestly cannot tell postsecondary education, she enrolled at LAU, then the Beirut you how important this is.” Make a gift to LAU in honor of College for Women. While at BCW, she met the man who would someone you love. become her husband, Dr. Wayne Aller, who was then chairing spoke eloquently about how much she owed to the first Director Visit campaign.lau.edu.lb/donate the Division of Social Sciences. and “founding foremother” of IWSAW, Dr. Julinda Abu Nasr, Sonia’s mentor in child development at BCW, who inspired Today, Dr. Sonia Aller is a psycholinguist and a licensed Sonia to pursue her career helping children. Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). She serves as Director for Communication Disorders in the University of Southern In 2017, Drs. Sonia and Wayne Aller established the first-ever Thank You For Your Generous Support California’s LEND interdisciplinary training program at scholarship endowment fund within IWSAW, the Assadour & Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where she mentors future Elize Konialian and Zabelle Bezdikian Memorial Endowment Farouk and Aghnie Abi Rafeh Jerry Ludeke Philip Stoltzfus and Terrie Alafat leaders in the field of developmental disabilities. For over 30 Scholarship Fund, named in honor of Sonia’s parents and Ahmar Family Foundation Col. Don and Nancy Mafrige U.S. Agency for International years, she has provided multilingual services to children with grandmother, as a tribute to their unconditional love and Layla Naamani Alireza Tony Mazraani* Development special needs, founding and leading non-profit organizations nurturing. The fund will provide, in perpetuity, an annual Dr. Paul and Dr. Nada Maria Marguerite Boueri McLeod* Hiba Yazbeck* and Chady providing parent education and advocacy. In 2017 she received scholarship award to be granted to an outstanding student, Anid Middle East Partnership Initiative Wehbe the California Speech, Language and Hearing Association’s female or male, in IWSAW’s Interdisciplinary Gender Studies Anthony R. Abraham Dr. C. Fredrick and Mrs. Leila Women’s Refugee Commission, Diversity Award. She is an enthusiastic participant in activities of Masters program. Foundation, Inc. Milkie Inc. the Southern California Chapter of the LAU Alumni Association. Nadia Barbir Ariss Suzanne Nader* Dr. Mohamad and Rowaida Sonia and Wayne are thrilled to support the important work done Samira Baroody* Presbyterian Foundation Yaghi* For years Sonia and Wayne had considered establishing by IWSAW for women’s empowerment and gender equality, Frank and Margaret Bitar Jacqueline Rizik a scholarship at LAU. In 2016, after learning of the new and are particularly proud of the gender studies education Foundation Ferris and Lenore Saydah * denotes alumni donors M.A. Program in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies from the programming. They are honoring their ties to the BCW of the Dr. Mary Ellen Lane Bassem Soubra* enthusiastic new Director of the Institute for Women’s Studies past, where Sonia’s liberal arts education prepared her superbly in the Arab World (IWSAW), Dr. Lina Abirafeh, its purpose and for her future success, and they are paving the way for LAU This list includes donors from North America who have recently supported LAU anticipated impact seemed perfect to them. Dr. Abirafeh also students who will be the leaders of the future.

6 | Giving Lebanon on Screen/Donors | 7 LAU NEW YORK HEADQUARTERS AND ACADEMIC CENTER 211 EAST 46TH STREET chat NEW YORK, NY 10017-2935

Majdi Ramadan Majdi Ramadan has been Consul Can you tell us about some of the more Lebanese Diaspora Energy Conference General of Lebanon since June 2012, and memorable events at the LAU New in September 2016. I take real pride in has co-sponsored many cultural events York Academic Center? what we accomplished and especially the at the Lebanese American University Honestly, they are all memorable—The people that we hosted—LAU President New York Academic Center. Prior to this wine tasting event, the food event, the Dr. Jabbra was one of our distinguished appointment, he worked for ten years in discussion with Captain Philip Beale on panelists. New York at the . the Phoenician ship… the Zajal event was phenomenal! I also fondly remember the You have a new addition to your What is your relationship to the LAU FJK dance event, with Fadi Khoury—that family! New York Academic Center? was amazing! I believe my first event Yes, Alexander is almost 19 months. I am an AUB grad myself, but I find here was in October 2013, it was a talk My wife Vanessa is my partner in all of myself working more with LAU because with Dr. Philip Salem about his book the events that we organize. I would you have an amazing center here in the “Cancer, Love and the Politics of Hope.” not have been able to do most of them city—and it’s not just the center, it’s without her support! She is an equal also the people—the staff is so willing What about other events in the partner in all of them. and capable. Many members of our Northeastern US? community enjoy these events. And they One of the best events I helped organize feature the achievements of LAU alumni! here in New York was the North America